Amazon FSx for Windows File Server
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server: A low-cost AWS file share for Windows workloads that need SMB and Active Directory. Ranked #7 of 31 in Cloud File Storage Services by our editors (8.8/10); pricing: Paid; best for low-cost Windows-compatible file shares.
At a glance
- Editor score8.8 / 10
- PricingPaid
- Best forLow-cost Windows-compatible file shares
- Free planNo
- Paid from$0.01/GB/mo
- Supported protocolsSMB
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- SMB access with Microsoft Active Directory integration
- Daily and on-demand backups plus Windows shadow copies
- AWS integrations including Backup, CloudWatch, and CloudFormation
Where it doesn't
- Core protocol coverage is limited to SMB
- The entry plan uses Single-AZ HDD storage
- Pricing varies with region, deployment, capacity, and data transfer
Our verdict on Amazon FSx for Windows File Server
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server is a fully managed cloud file system for shared Windows-compatible storage in AWS. It serves Windows applications, Linux and macOS clients, and AWS services over SMB. Its fit is strongest for business applications, home directories, content management, analytics, media processing, and SQL Server workloads that need Windows file-sharing capabilities rather than broad multi-protocol access.
Pricing starts at $0.013 per GB-month for the Single-AZ HDD storage plan, billed monthly. That plan provides HDD-based managed file storage in one Availability Zone. Paid configurations also support Multi-AZ deployments, SSD or HDD storage, configurable throughput, and configurable SSD IOPS. Actual pricing varies by AWS Region, deployment type, storage type, throughput, SSD IOPS, backups, and data transfer, so the entry rate is most relevant to a specific Single-AZ HDD configuration.
The service’s main strength is its Windows-oriented operational feature set. Microsoft Active Directory integration supports directory-aware environments, while automatic daily and user-initiated backups provide recovery options. Windows shadow copies support point-in-time file and folder restores, and file access auditing plus storage usage reports add visibility. AWS integrations include AWS Backup, Amazon CloudWatch, AWS CloudTrail, AWS CloudFormation, Amazon Kendra, Amazon ECS, and AWS DataSync. Choose it when SMB compatibility and AWS ecosystem fit matter most; consider another service when your workloads require protocols beyond SMB or a simpler, non-provisioned storage model.
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Amazon FSx for Windows File Server pricing
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Amazon FSx for Windows File Server fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $0.01/GB/mo |
| Supported protocols | SMB |
| Maximum capacity | 64 TB |
| Availability zones | 1 zones |
| Snapshots | Yes |
| Managed backups | Yes |
| Scaling model | Provisioned |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Compliance & security | SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS |
| Support | Docs, Community |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: Microsoft Active Directory, AWS Backup, Amazon CloudWatch, AWS CloudTrail, AWS CloudFormation, Amazon Kendra … |
| Pricing | Paid (source) |
| Website | aws.amazon.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server integrations
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- Microsoft Active Directory
- AWS Backup
- Amazon CloudWatch
- AWS CloudTrail
- AWS CloudFormation
- Amazon Kendra
- Amazon ECS
- AWS DataSync
Alternatives to Amazon FSx for Windows File Server
- Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAPA broad AWS storage service for enterprise file and block workloads.9.4
- Alibaba Cloud File Storage NASFlexible NFS and SMB file storage for Alibaba Cloud workloads, with usage-based tiers.9.3
- NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAPA broad ONTAP storage appliance for enterprise workloads across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.9.2
See all Amazon FSx for Windows File Server alternatives →
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server vs the competition
- Amazon FSx for Windows File Server vs Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP
- Amazon FSx for Windows File Server vs Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS
- Amazon FSx for Windows File Server vs NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP
- Amazon FSx for Windows File Server vs Azure NetApp Files
- Amazon FSx for Windows File Server vs Google Cloud NetApp Volumes
- Amazon FSx for Windows File Server vs Amazon Elastic File System (EFS)
Compare Amazon FSx for Windows File Server with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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